Seniors reflect on sports highlights

Volleyball seniors Rorie Jenkins, Taylor Spry, Lea Mebruer, Kylee Fajen, Rheanna Coke, Aspen Whitaker and Brooke Spry come together for a picture after their game against the Sherwood Marksmen on Sept. 3. Volleyball seniors were recognized for all of their hardwork before the Varsity game on Sept. 3.

   Over the last four years, each senior athlete has been looking forward to his/her senior night. This year senior nights were scheduled early due to COVID-19 and the chance of fall sports being cancelled, but have since then, been rescheduled many times due to athletes in quarantine.

   Volleyball seniors were honored on Sept. 3. Football’s senior night is scheduled for the last home football game against Skyline on Oct. 16, along with recognizing cross country, cheerleading, band, dance team, and color guard seniors. 

   Seniors who were involved in these fall sports and activities did so because they loved the activity and wanted to make the best of their high school experience.

   “I have run cross country for four years and have had some ups and downs, but overall, friends are what got me through it,” senior runner Trey Palmer said. “My whole high school experience was really based on sports so they really are the reason I enjoyed high school.”

   “My experience overall has been pretty good, just stressful at times,” senior base cheerleader Morgan Branson said.

   “Playing football has made many friendships that will last a long time,” senior offensive lineman and defensive lineman Logan Strunk said.

   These seniors have made many memories throughout the years.   

 

   “There’s been so many fun times such as club tournaments, going to the hotels and swimming and running all over the hotel with each other and eating everyone’s snacks,” senior volleyball setter Brooke Spry said.

   “One of my favorite memories is when Mr. Thomas had the fire department come down during band camp, and spray the whole band with the fire hose,” senior drum major Gabriel Porter said.

   Being active in extracurricular pursuits was about more than just the particular activity, it was about the experiences and personal development that students gained.

   “Out of sports I got the enjoyment of being skilled at something and it helped me with my competitive tendencies and many other skills,” Palmer said. “After high school I plan on playing a sport in college, hopefully basketball,  and trying to get a job coaching or in construction.” 

   “After high school I plan to attend Mizzou to study law and I plan on cheering if possible,” Branson said.

   “What I got out of cheerleading is a sense of leadership. Being able to inspire underclassman cheerleaders has made my experience as a cheerleader so much better and more rewarding.

I plan to attend Star Fair Community College and at the moment I plan on trying for the cheer squad,” senior base cheerleader Haley Dwyer said.

 

Cross Country

Trey Palmer

Volleyball

Brooke Spry        Setter

Taylor Spry         Back row 

Rheanna Coke    Back row 

Rorie Jenkins      Front row

Aspen Whitaker  Back row

Kylee Fajen          Libero

Lea Mebruerm    Setter

Cheer

Darby Mostaffa     Flyer

Hallie Wenberg     Flyer

Morgan Branson   Base

Haley Dwyer          Base

Jamie Jorgensen   Back spot

Football

Zachary Sharp     Defensive back/Wide Receiver 

Justin Martin      Outside linebacker/Running back

Shane Ashlock    Outside linebacker/Running back

Tim Burkhart      Offensive line/Defensive line

PJ Landsberg      Offensive line/Defensive line

Logan Strunk      Offensive line/Defensive line

Grady Miller       Offensive line/Defensive line 

Kolton Krueger     Offensive line/Middle linebacker

Band

Gabby Porter            Flute soloist and Head drum major

Jamie Jorgensen     Section leader and Assistant drum major 

Autumn Krueger     Flute 

Ellie Wassman         Flute

Jesse Arms               Alto saxophone 

Lucas Culbertson    Trumpet

Chloe Kaneaster        Tuba and Section leader 

Darby Mostaffa        Marimba soloist and Section leader

Emmaleigh Kowal   Concert bass drum and Gong

Color guard

Aerial Quigley          Color guard captain 

Sabrina Uptgraft     Color guard captain

Dance Team

Lauren Kreisel

Ariel Givens

Sabrina Uptgraft